Mayor of St. Louis 1893-1897. His family moved to northern Illinois in 1854. He attended Carlton College. He worked his way through the University of Minnesota Law School by teaching and working as a carpenter. He moved with his wife to St. Louis and opened his law practice. After performing legal work for the J.S. Merrell Drug Company, he later became president of that company. In 1881, he was elected President of the City Council, a position he held until April of 1893 when he was elected the thirty-second Mayor of St. Louis. He was the first mayor to appoint women to governmental offices, including the Public Library Board, Board of Charity Commissioners and the House of Refuge Board. Some of his other initiatives include a more organized trash removal system, the conversion of telephone and telegraph lines to underground and the establishment of new pumping stations. After leaving office, he became president of the Bell Telephone Company of Missouri in 1904. He also served as president of the National Wholesale Druggist Association and headed the Businessmans' League of St. Louis.

Mayor of St. Louis 1893-1897. His family moved to northern Illinois in 1854. He attended Carlton College. He worked his way through the University of Minnesota Law School by teaching and working as a carpenter. He moved with his wife to St. Louis and opened his law practice. After performing legal work for the J.S. Merrell Drug Company, he later became president of that company. In 1881, he was elected President of the City Council, a position he held until April of 1893 when he was elected the thirty-second Mayor of St. Louis. He was the first mayor to appoint women to governmental offices, including the Public Library Board, Board of Charity Commissioners and the House of Refuge Board. Some of his other initiatives include a more organized trash removal system, the conversion of telephone and telegraph lines to underground and the establishment of new pumping stations. After leaving office, he became president of the Bell Telephone Company of Missouri in 1904. He also served as president of the National Wholesale Druggist Association and headed the Businessmans' League of St. Louis.

Bio by: Winter Birds PA